Anze Kopitar (right) and Justin Williams (left) led the way among Los Angeles Kings’ forwards this season.
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings suffered an earlier than desired exit from the 2010-11 season, when they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the San Jose Sharks, who won the series 4-2.

To be sure, another first round exit from the post-season party was not what the Kings had in mind this year, as expectations, both their own and just about everyone else’s, was for them to at least advance to the second round.

Although they faced extenuating circumstances that affected their ability to enjoy post-season success, namely, the loss of leading scorer and top defensive forward Anze Kopitar to a devastating ankle injury in late March, the Kings showed that if they had the discipline to adhere to their system and structure, they could have won that series, advancing to the Western Conference Semi Finals. Given that, it doesn’t matter how you slice it. The fact remains that the Kings did not meet expectations for the 2010-11 season. Read more of this post

EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings have returned to Southern California following a six-game Eastern road swing in which they earned a respectable 3-1-2 record. But that was part of a larger nine-game stretch of games, all on the road, in which they emerged with a 5-1-3 record, earning 13 out of a possible 18 points. Read more of this post

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On December 14, the Los Angeles Kings announced that veteran left wing Marco Sturm has passed all physical tests and that the trade that sent him from the Boston Bruins to the Kings that was announced on December 11, 2010, is now official. Read more of this post

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